Bulk Transport

bulk transport, of wine is the movement of large quantities of wine within a single winery or from one place to another, typically from where it was held in bulk storage to the bottling location, which may not even be in the same hemisphere.

Bulk transport over long distances has increased considerably over the last 10 years in an effort to reduce both financial and environmental costs. Twice as much wine can be transported in the same space in bulk than in bottle, packaging waste is reduced, and locally recycled glass may be used (although bottlers in the producing country suffer the consequences). According to the oiv, 40% of exported wine was moved in bulk in 2012, up more than 60% compared with 2005. In the same year, 80% of Australia’s wine exports to the UK were in bulk, and in 2013, 65% of South African wine was exported in this way. Other benefits include the better thermal protection offered by a large volume of wine and longer shelf life for wine sold in boxes.